Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 82 / Monday, April 29, 2013 / Notices 25079 

renewal for the Ambient Air Quality 

Surveillance ICR will incorporates the 

requirements and burden currently 

approved under the Nitrogen Oxides 

Ambient Monitoring ICR (OMB# 2060– 

0638, EPA ICR Number 2358.03) and the 

Sulfur Dioxides Ambient Monitoring 

ICR (OMB# 2060–0642, EPA ICR 

Number 2370.02). Public comments 

were previously requested via the 

Federal Register (78 FR 12052) on 

February 21, 2013 during a 60-day 

comment period. This notice allows for 

an additional 30 days for public 

comments. A fuller description of the 

ICR is given below, including its 

estimated burden and cost to the public. 

An Agency may not conduct or sponsor 

and a person is not required to respond 

to a collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. 

DATES: Additional comments may be 

submitted on or before May 29, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

referencing Docket ID number EPA– 

HQ–OAR–2002–0091, to (1) EPA online 

using www.regulations.gov (our 

preferred method), by Email to a-and-rdocket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA 

Docket Center, Environmental 

Protection Agency, Air and Radiation 

Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 

Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, 

DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: 

Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs, Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer 

for EPA, 725 17th Street NW., 

Washington, DC 20503. 

EPA’s policy is that all comments 

received will be included in the public 

docket without change including any 

personal information provided, unless 

the comment includes profanity, threats, 

information claimed to be Confidential 

Business Information (CBI) or other 

information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Laurie Trinca, Air Quality Analysis 

Division (C304–06), Environmental 

Protection Agency; telephone number 

(919) 541–0520; fax number: 919–541– 

1903; email address: 

trinca.laurie@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Supporting documents which explain in 

detail the information that the EPA will 

be collecting are available in the public 

docket for this ICR. The docket can be 

viewed online at www.regulations.gov 

or in person at the EPA Docket Center, 

EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 

Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, 

DC. The telephone number for the 

Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For 

additional information about EPA’s 

public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/ 

dockets. 

Abstract: This Information Collection 

Request (ICR) includes ambient air 

monitoring data and other supporting 

measurements reporting and 

recordkeeping activities associated with 

the 40 CFR part 58 Ambient Air Quality 

Surveillance rule. These data and 

information are collected by various 

State and local air quality management 

agencies, and Tribal entities and 

reported to the Office of Air Quality 

Planning and Standards within the 

Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. EPA. 

The data collected through this 

information collection consist of 

ambient air concentration 

measurements for the seven air 

pollutants with National Ambient Air 

Quality Standards (i.e., ozone, sulfur 

dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, carbon 

monoxide, PM2.5 and PM–10), ozone 

precursors, meteorological variables at a 

select number of sites and other 

supporting measurements. 

Accompanying the pollutant 

concentration data are quality 

assurance/quality control data and air 

monitoring network design information. 

The U.S. EPA and others (e.g., State 

and local air quality management 

agencies, tribal entities, environmental 

groups, academic institutions, industrial 

groups) use the ambient air quality data 

for many purposes, including informing 

the public and other interested parties 

of an area’s air quality, judging an area’s 

(e.g., county, city, neighborhood) air 

quality in comparison with the 

established health or welfare standards 

(including both national and local 

standards), evaluating an air quality 

management agency’s progress in 

achieving or maintaining air pollutant 

levels below the national and local 

standards, developing and revising State 

Implementation Plans (SIPs) in 

accordance with 40 CFR part 51, 

evaluating air pollutant control 

strategies, developing or revising 

national control policies, providing data 

for air quality model development and 

validation, supporting enforcement 

actions, documenting episodes and 

initiating episode controls, air quality 

trends assessment, and air pollution 

research. 

The State and local agencies and 

tribal entities with responsibility for 

reporting ambient air quality data and 

information as requested in this ICR 

submit these data electronically to the 

U.S. EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) 

database. Quality assurance/quality 

control records and monitoring network 

documentation are also maintained by 

each State and local agency, in AQS 

electronic format where possible. 

Respondents/Affected Entities: State 

and local air pollution agencies and 

Tribal entities. 

Respondent’s obligation to respond: 

Mandatory. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

142. 

Frequency of Response: Quarterly, but 

may occur more frequently. 

Total Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 

49,474 hours. Burden is defined at 5 

CFR 1320.3(b). 

Total Estimated Annual Cost: 

$3,261,007. This includes an estimated 

labor cost of $2,737,485 and an 

estimated cost of $523,522 for 

operations and maintenance and capital 

costs. 

John Moses, 

Director, Collection Strategies Division. 

[FR Doc. 2013–10009 Filed 4–26–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–9807–1] 

Forum on Environmental 

Measurements Announcement of 

Competency Policy for Assistance 

Agreements 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Announcement of Competency 

Policy for Assistance Agreements. 

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection 

Agency’s Forum on Environmental 

Measurements (FEM) is implementing 

an Agency-wide policy requiring 

organizations generating or using 

environmental data under certain 

Agency-funded assistance agreements to 

submit documentation of their 

competency prior to award of the 

agreement, or if that is not practicable, 

prior to beginning any work involving 

the generation or use of environmental 

data under the agreement. The Policy 

was originally approved on December 

12, 2012 by the Science Technology 

Policy Council (STPC) and will be 

effective on May 15, 2013. The Policy 

will apply to all competitive and noncompetitive assistance agreements 

expected to exceed a total maximum 

value of $200,000 (in federal funding) 

and awarded based on solicitations 

issued after May 14, 2013. The Policy 

will be reviewed against frequently 

asked questions within two years after 

its effective data and will either be 

reissued without revision, reissued with 

revisions, or rescinded. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Comments or questions should be sent 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
25080 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 82 / Monday, April 29, 2013 / Notices 

1While this Policy does not apply to existing 

awards, or awards under the dollar threshold, 

offices are encouraged to apply this Policy to those 

awards as deemed appropriate. 

2See http://www.epa.gov/fem/lab_comp.html. 

3See http://www.epa.gov/quality. 

to Ms. Lara P. Phelps, US EPA (E243– 

05), 109 T. W. Alexander Drive, 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; 

emailed to phelps.lara@epa.gov; or call 

(919) 541–5544. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For 

purposes of this Policy, the following 

definitions apply: 

Accreditation—As defined in various 

International Organization for 

Standardization (ISO) publications and 

glossaries, accreditation is a procedure 

by which an authoritative body gives 

formal recognition that an entity is 

competent to carry out specific tasks. 

Assistance agreement—As described 

in the U.S. EPA Grants and Debarment 

Glossary (http://www.epa.gov/ogd/ 

recipient/glossary.htm), an assistance 

agreement is the legal instrument that 

the U.S. EPA uses to transfer money, 

property, services, or anything of value 

to a recipient to accomplish a public 

purpose. It is either a grant or a 

cooperative agreement and will specify 

certain things including: budget and 

project periods; the federal share of 

eligible project costs; a description of 

the work to be accomplished, and any 

terms and conditions/special 

conditions. 

Competence—As defined in ISO 9000, 

competence is the demonstrated ability 

to apply knowledge and skills. 

Certification—As similarly defined in 

various ISO publications and glossaries, 

certification is the recognition provided 

by an independent body related to 

products, processes, systems or persons. 

Environmental data—As defined in 

the U.S. EPA Quality Policy (CIO 

2106.0; 10/20/08), environmental data 

include any measurements or 

information that describe environmental 

processes, location or conditions; 

ecological or health effects and 

consequences; or the performance of 

environmental technology. 

Applicability 

This Policy applies to all U.S. EPA 

programs (e.g., Program Offices, 

Regional Offices, and Laboratories) 

responsible for evaluating, issuing, and/ 

or managing Agency assistance 

agreements involving organizations 

generating or using environmental data 

through environmental sample 

collection, field measurements and/or 

laboratory analyses. It applies to new 

competitive and non-competitive 

awards that at the time of solicitation 

issuance or award are expected to 

exceed $200,000 (in federal funding) in 

total maximum value (including any 

amendments).1 This is an additional 

award requirement to be implemented 

by the project officer(s) and overseen by 

the project officer(s) or their technical 

designee(s). This Policy does not replace 

any existing requirements (e.g., general 

information, quality system 

requirements documentation) or 

prohibit an Agency program from 

placing additional requirements or 

stipulations on an organization 

receiving an award. Project officers are 

responsible for implementing the 

requirements under this Policy and 

ensuring that appropriate solicitation 

provisions and programmatic terms and 

conditions, if necessary, are included in 

solicitations and assistance agreements. 

As mentioned above, this Policy 

applies to: 

• Awards made under competitive 

solicitations issued after May 14, 2013 

that are expected to exceed $200,000 (in 

federal funding) in maximum total value 

and involve the use or generation of 

environmental data; and 

• Non-competitive assistance 

agreements awarded after May 14, 2013 

that are expected to exceed $200,000 (in 

federal funding) in total maximum value 

and involve the use or generation of 

environmental data. 

Background/Authority 

The U.S. EPA Science Policy Council 

(now U.S. EPA Science and Technology 

Policy Council) established the Forum 

on Environmental Measurements (FEM) 

as a standing committee of senior U.S. 

EPA managers who provide the Agency 

and the public with a focal point for 

addressing measurement, monitoring 

and laboratory issues with multiprogram impact. Since the inception of 

the FEM in April 2004, an action item 

has existed for the FEM to assure the 

competency of organizations funded by 

the Agency under acquisition and/or 

assistance agreements to generate 

environmental data through 

measurement activities. The goal is to 

assure that, nationwide, organizations 

performing environmental data 

operations have effective quality 

management systems and technical 

competence, and thus have the 

capability to generate valid 

environmental data. 

In 2004, the Agency issued a policy to 

assure the competency of U.S. EPA 

laboratories. In 2011, the Agency issued 

a second policy to assure the 

competency of organizations (e.g., 

laboratories, field sampling and 

measurement) generating environmental 

data under Agency-funded acquisitions 

(i.e., contracts). 

The Policy announced today was 

developed to ensure the use of 

competent organizations for performing 

activities involving the use or 

generation of environmental data under 

Agency-funded assistance agreements. 

As explained below, these organizations 

will have to demonstrate competency 

either prior to award or prior to 

beginning such activities. Project 

officers are responsible for 

implementing this requirement. 

A Frequently Asked Question 

document is available with further 

details on implementing this Policy.2

This will be revised and updated as 

necessary. Questions as to whether 

activities involve the use or generation 

of environmental data and are covered 

by this Policy should be referred to the 

FEM (http://www.epa.gov/fem/ 

lab_comp.htm). 

Requirements 

Organizations performing activities 

involving the use or generation of 

environmental data under covered 

assistance agreements shall provide the 

Agency with: 

• Quality documentation such as a 

quality management plan (QMP), and/or 

other documentation that demonstrates 

conformance to U.S. EPA quality 

program requirements; 3 and 

• Demonstration of competency in 

the field(s) of expertise. 

Demonstration of competency may 

include (but not be limited to): 

• Current participation in 

accreditation or certification programs 

that are applicable to the environmental 

data generated under the Agencyfunded assistance; 

• Ongoing participation by the 

organization in proficiency testing (PT) 

or round robin programs conducted by 

external organizations; 

• Ongoing U.S. EPA accepted 

demonstrations and audits/assessments 

of proficiency; and 

• Other pertinent documentation that 

demonstrates competency (e.g., past 

performance to similar statement of 

work [SOW]). 

Assistance agreement solicitations and 

agreements will include applicable 

provisions and terms and conditions. 

Examples will be contained in the FAQ 

document. 

Implementation 

Competitive awards and solicitations: 

Program offices that issue competitive 

solicitations expected to result in 

awards exceeding $200,000 (in federal 

funding) in total maximum value that 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 82 / Monday, April 29, 2013 / Notices 25081 

will involve the generation or use of 

environmental data must include a 

provision in the solicitation indicating 

that applicants for these awards must 

demonstrate competency (i) prior to 

award or (ii) if that is not practicable or 

will unduly delay the award prior to 

beginning such activities under the 

award. For awards covered by (i) above 

where the Project Officer obtains the 

competency demonstration prior to 

award the Project Officer will include 

the demonstration in their file. For 

awards covered by (ii) above, where the 

competency demonstration will be 

made after award, the Project Officer 

will include a programmatic term and 

condition in the grant requiring the 

grantee to demonstrate competency 

prior to performing any work involving 

the use or generation of environmental 

data. This competency demonstration 

should be documented in the project 

officer’s file. Sample clauses will be 

provided in the FAQ document. 

Non-competitive awards: Program 

offices that make non-competitive 

awards expected to exceed $200,000 (in 

federal funding) in total maximum value 

that will involve the generation or use 

of environmental data should ensure 

that the applicant demonstrates their 

competency to perform such activities 

prior to award. This will be documented 

by the Project Officer in their file. 

However, if obtaining the competency 

demonstration prior to award is 

impracticable or will cause a significant 

delay of the award, project officers must 

include a programmatic term and 

condition in the grant requiring the 

grantee to demonstrate competency 

prior to performing any such activities. 

This competency demonstration should 

be documented in the project officer’s 

file. Sample clauses will be provided in 

the FAQ document. 

Awards: If, at time of award, it is 

uncertain whether the award will 

exceed $200,000 (in federal funding) in 

total maximum value and involve the 

generation or use of environmental data, 

the project officer will include a term/ 

condition in the award that the recipient 

must demonstrate competency prior to 

performing any such activities (an 

example will be put in the FAQ 

document). 

References 

• U.S. EPA Grants and Debarment, http:// 

www.epa.gov/ogd. 

• U.S. EPA CIO 2106.0 U.S. EPA Quality 

Policy, October 20, 2008, http:// 

www.epa.gov/irmpoli8/policies/ 

21060.pdf. 

• U.S. EPA CIO 2105–P–01–0 EPA Quality 

Manual for Environmental Programs, 

May 5, 2000, http://www.epa.gov/ 

irmpoli8/policies/2105P010.pdf. 

• U.S. EPA Agency Policy Directive Assuring 

the Competency of Environmental 

Protection Agency Laboratories, 

February 23, 2004, http://www.epa.gov/ 

fem/pdfs/labdirective.pdf. 

• U.S. EPA Agency Policy Directive FEM– 

2011–01 Policy to Assure Competency of 

Organizations Generating Environmental 

Measurement Data under Agency 

Funded Acquisitions, March 28, 2011, 

http://www.epa.gov/fem/pdfs/fem-labcompetency-policy.pdf. 

Dated: April 19, 2013. 

Glenn Paulson, 

Science Advisor, Office of the Science 

Advisor. 

[FR Doc. 2013–10043 Filed 4–26–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–9806–1] 

Reissuance of Final NPDES General 

Permits for Facilities/Operations That 

Generate, Treat, and/or Use/Dispose of 

Sewage Sludge by Means of Land 

Application, Landfill, and Surface 

Disposal in EPA Region 8 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice of issuance of NPDES 

general permits. 

SUMMARY: Region 8 of the EPA is hereby 

giving notice of its reissuance of the 

National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) general 

permits for facilities or operations that 

generate, treat, and/or use/dispose of 

sewage sludge by means of land 

application, landfill, and surface 

disposal in the States of CO, MT, ND, 

and WY and in Indian country in the 

States of CO, MT, ND, SD, WY and UT 

(except for the Goshute Indian 

Reservation and the Navajo Indian 

Reservation). The effective date of the 

general permits is May 13, 2013. 

DATES: The general permits become 

effective on May 13, 2013 and will 

expire five years from that date. For 

appeal purposes, the 120 day time 

period for appeal to the U.S. Federal 

Courts will begin May 13, 2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Additional information concerning the 

final permits may be obtained from Bob 

Brobst, EPA Region 8, Wastewater Unit 

(8P–W–WW), 1595 Wynkoop Street, 

Denver, CO 80202–1129, telephone 

(303) 312–6129 or Email at 

brobst.bob@epa.gov. The administrative 

record is available by appointment for 

review and copying, fee for copies may 

be required, at the EPA Region 8 offices 

during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 

p.m. Monday through Friday, Federal 

holidays excluded. The final general 

permits, the fact sheet, and additional 

information may be downloaded from 

the EPA Region 8 Web page at http:// 

www.epa.gov/region08/water/biosolids/

documents.html. Please allow one week 

after date of this publication for items to 

be uploaded to the Web page. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

NPDES permit numbers and the areas 

covered by each general permit are 

listed below. 

State Permit No. Area covered by the general permit 

Colorado ............ COG650000 State of Colorado except for Federal Facilities and Indian country. 

COG651000 Indian country within the State of Colorado and the portions of the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation located in New Mexico and in Utah. 

COG652000 Federal Facilities in the State of Colorado, except those located in Indian country, which are covered 

under permit COG51000. 

Montana ............. MTG650000 State of Montana except for Indian country. 

MTG651000 Indian country in the State of Montana. 

North Dakota ..... NDG650000 State of North Dakota except for Indian country. 

NDG651000 Indian country within the State of North Dakota (except for Indian country located within the former boundaries of the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, which are covered under permit SDG651000) and that 

portion of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation located in South Dakota. 

South Dakota ..... SDG651000 Indian country within the State of South Dakota (except for the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, which 

is covered under permit NDG651000), that portion of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation located in Nebraska, and Indian country located in North Dakota within the former boundaries of the Lake Traverse 

Indian Reservation. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES